ClubSwan Racing to play pivotal role in Spain’s Royal Sailing Regatta
by Nautor’s Swan July 29 12:24 UTC
August 1-6, 2022
Swan – King’s Cup © Giulio Testa
The ClubSwan Racing one-design fleet will be in the spotlight as they take their place at the heart of the 40th edition of Spain’s prestigious royal regatta, the Copa del Rey, from August 1-6.
A total of 32 one-design Swan yachts will compete in the ClubSwan 36, ClubSwan 42 and ClubSwan 50 classes, while a further seven Swan yachts, including one from the new Swan 58 range, have the potential to excel in two of the classes. open. classification classes.
The highly competitive event held in the Bay of Palma is one of the highlights of the Mediterranean racing season and – like the ClubSwan Racing circuit itself – attracts world-class professional racers who sail alongside passionate Corinthian sailors and enthusiastic.
Organized by the exclusive Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP), the Copa del Rey also marks the penultimate round of the season-long Nations League competition, with no less than 13 nations represented.
“It’s excellent that ClubSwan Racing plays such a big role in the Copa del Rey,” said Federico Michetti, head of sports activities at ClubSwan Racing. “It’s a fantastic regatta with superb organisation, competitive racing and a fun social program ashore. We’re delighted to be part of it.”
This is a view shared by RCNP President Emerico Fuster: “All of us at Real Club Náutico de Palma have worked hard to ensure that the Copa del Rey retains its special place in the Mediterranean racing calendar, and with more than 100 teams from 20 different countries prepare for the competition, I believe we have succeeded.
“ClubSwan Racing has played a big part in this, and we look forward to welcoming all owners and crews to what is going to be an unforgettable regatta.”
As host, RCNP will host many of the social events that are an integral part of the Copa del Rey, with the terrace serving as the setting for a series of concerts throughout the week as well as an owners cocktail party on Thursday 4 august.
Meanwhile, the final awards ceremony on Saturday August 6, which will be presided over by His Majesty King Felipe VI, will take place in Ses Voltes, a unique space at the foot of the Gothic Cathedral of Palma.
On the water, the 14-strong ClubSwan 50 class will be the largest of the Swan one-design fleets, with Hendrik Brandis’ Earlybird no doubt looking to do better than his runner-up finish at the recent Swan One Design Worlds in Valencia. .
For the German Olympic team based in Palma, the Copa del Rey is in fact a home regatta. Owner Mark Bezner said: “Mallorca and Palma feel like home, so racing here can give us a home advantage.
“We last raced at the Sardinia Challenge, so we know how competitive the ClubSwan 50 class can be, and we hope to put in a strong performance and have a great time as well.”
The ClubSwan 42 class is also well represented at the Copa del Rey, with 10 on the starting line including Pedro Vaquer’s Nadir who will look to repeat his decisive win at the Swan One Design Worlds.
“We put in a lot of effort and practice for Worlds, although the competition was much tighter than the results indicated,” Vaquer said. “Our rivals will be competitive at the Copa del Rey, so we will have to be on top form again. Either way, it will be fun.”
The super-competitive 8-man ClubSwan 36 class will no doubt deliver another masterclass in close racing, with Worlds only deciding the countdown after four yachts qualified for the final race at only one point difference.
One entry that will look to be in the mix will be Richard Thompson’s Black Seal, flying the flag of Guernsey. A clear win at the Swan Sardinia Challenge in early June demonstrated his potential.
“The Copa del Rey is a very prestigious event, and we will work very hard to repeat our success in Sardinia,” said Thompson. “We have no illusions about the level of competition we’ll face, but that’s part of why we’re in the class, and we’re going to give it our all.”
The Copa del Rey races start on Monday August 1, followed by five more days of racing.
Running tracker available here.
